Land prices have been on a steady rising trend in Sligo over the past eight years. Last year that pattern continued, with the average price rising by 9% to €9,090/ac. That was an increase of €761/ac on the year before when it stood at €8,329/ac.

Supply was up slightly. We examined 77 farms that were put up for sale, up from 56 the year before. They had a total of 1,955ac, up from last year’s total of 1,744ac.

We did our calculations on 28 farms that had sold by year-end and met our criteria. Selling prices ranged from €3,348/ac to €24,752/ac.

One of the largest sales was 102ac in Castleloye, Tubbercurry, which was brought to auction by Property Partners’ Garret Loftus. It was offered in lots and fetched over €1m. E&M Scanlon Auctions sold a number of holdings in the 10ac to 30ac range, fetching up to €10,000/ac to €12,000/ac for the choicer holdings.

Roger McCarrick held one of the busiest auctions of the year. In this sale, he sold two holdings of land with two houses – from the same landowner – in seven different lots, to seven different buyers, taking nearly 200 bids.

Over 100 people were in the room for the sale. The lands were located in Cloonacool village and in Carrentubber, Tubbercurry.

Vital statistics

Average*: €9,090/ac

% change on 2023: +9%

Acres offered: 1,955

Total number of farms: 77

Price range: €3,348/ac to €24,752/ac

Most active buyers: Suckler/beef

Weighted average: €8,255/ac

*Number of transactions: 28